Exhibition mapping out murder sites at Rich Mix
Antonio Olmos' Landscape of Murder at RichMix - Credit: Archant
“It started when a woman was murdered close to where I live in January 2011.”
These are the words of Antonio Olmos, a photojournalist who has documented every site where a murder occurred across London between January 2011 and December 2012.
Altogether, Antonio successfully photographed 210 sites within the M25 motorway, for The Landscape of Murder project, which he hopes will give memory to events that are mostly forgotten and to pinpoint unseen places where violence has occurred.
He said: “The woman that died near me in Southgate was murdered by her partner in a domestic abuse case, It never made the papers. Soon after, another woman was murdered in Walthamstow by her family and again it just didn’t make the papers.
“So, I decided to take photographs of sites where murders have happened to see how the landscape changes and how people react to these places, especially if they recognise the area, and had no idea what took place there.”
Antonio also visited his own exhibition out of curiosity last week.
“I didn’t make myself known and I was at the Rich Mix all day. I guess I wanted to see the way people would react to the exhibition.
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“Most people who came across it on the day actually came to the Rich Mix for a separate event. I noticed people engaging with certain areas and saying they had no idea what had taken place.
“This is because it usually always reverts back to normality and sometimes there are no signs that a murder took place.”
In the two years, Antonio travelled to various parts of London documenting murders that led from gangs, domestic abuse, mental health issues and drugs.
“While I have travelled to parts of London I never knew before and documented 210 murders altogether, it is worth noting that compared to many other large cities, London is rather safe. I do not intend to shape a London of violence and danger, instead the project aims is to create memory of events that have been forgotten.”
The exhibition takes place until May 30 and is for free. Visit Richmix.org.ul for information.
